forehearth

[ fawr-hahrth, fohr- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

(in a blast furnace or cupola) a reservoir for iron or slag, accessible through a door at hearth level.

First recorded in 1880–85; fore- + hearth

L—The master stands at the other furnace and prepares the forehearth by ramming it with two rammers.

At the first stands the smelter, who with a ladle pours the alloy out of the forehearth into the moulds.

G—The forehearth crucible: one-half inside is to be seen open in the other furnace.

Then the same assistant throws a little powdered charcoal into the pit of the forehearth and sprinkles it with pulverised earth.

When the alloy has been poured out of the forehearth, the smelter foreman and the mine captain weigh the cakes.

April 24, 2024gallimaufry

[gal-uh-maw-free ]

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